Decorations, music and musings in Rothe House

Rothe House & Garden, in Parliament Street, has put together an exciting programme of events to help us all to get in the Christmas spirit. It starts on Thursday 1st December at 7.00 pm, with a Christmas Decoration and Flower Demonstration by Mary Pyke and Rosemary Barnes. This evening is designed to introduce new and different ways to create that unique Christmas decoration for your home, at a relatively low cost. The admission price of €10 includes refreshments, and all decorations created on the night will be raffled.

On Wednesday 7th December, the annual Christmas Miscellany takes place. An evening of Christmas and winter music and musings, this has become a very popular event which seems to kickstart the Christmas season for everyone. The music is provided by Sonas Chamber Choir, and the musings are by a number of local people – some with their own writings. The mince pies, mulled wine ,log fire and Christmas tree all help to add to the atmosphere. Tickets are €20, and include refreshments. All proceeds go to the Rothe House Renaissance Project.

Two more of our hugely successful Children’s workshops are taking place on Saturday 10th December, one at 10.30 and one at 2.30. Children learn through activity and play, and will create lots of Christmas goodies to decorate their homes and schools. Maybe even make some Christmas presents as well? Booking is essential for these events, at 056 7722893 or email info@rothehouse.com. €10 per child, and family rates apply – please ask when booking.

These events are the culmination of a full programme of events at Rothe House & Garden throughout 2011, which saw record numbers visiting. The poor weather didn’t seem to deter our visitors, but maybe it was our ducks which attracted them!

Quotes & Facts

Collectively, Kilkenny people are known as 'The Cats', most specifically in the arena of hurling

The elevation of Kilkenny is 60 metres (200 ft) above sea level. The area of Kilkenny borough is 3.74 square kilometres (1.44 sq mi). Kilkenny is the smallest city in Ireland and although all cities in Ireland are by the coast or along a river Kilkenny is the only city that is not tidal.

One of the most instantly recognised buildings in Ireland, Kilkenny Castle has been an important site since Strongbow constructed the first castle, probably a wooden structure, in the 12th century.

On learning that Bishop Kearney was buried in a tomb within St Canice’s Cathedral;

“I have to admit it was very exciting and it was great to finally prove conclusively that Barack Obama’s sixth generation grand uncle was the Bishop of Ossory who died in Kilkenny city at the Bishop’s Palace in 1813. It is now the headquarters of the Heritage Council."

Local Academic Gabriel Murray

Irish legend describes Dunmore Cave, seven miles north of Kilkenny, as one of Ireland’s darkest places and the site where the monster Luchtigen 'The Lord of the Mice' was killed.

In 1922, the Butler family - namely Lord and Lady Ossory - were residents of the castle. The Irish Civil war, raged around them. Lord Ossory memorably wrote that he was woken at the "unreasonable hour of 5.30am" by his butler, who brought the news that Republican forces had seized and occupied his castle.